By Kristen Weyer.
The zany sisters of Nunsense are back and playing at Gateway Playhouse! This musical comedy, with book, music, and lyrics by Dan Goggin has been delighting audiences since 1985. Directed and choreographed here by Keith Andrews, this production is an excellent choice for an entertaining evening.
You are cordially invited to the fund raising benefit for The Little Sisters of Hoboken cloister, to be held in the auditorium of Mt. Saint Helen’s School. The nuns will sing, dance, tell stories and crack jokes all in the hopes that you will contribute to their aid. You see, they’ve had a little tragedy. Sister Julia, the cook, made a bad batch of vichyssoise and they lost 52 sisters to botulism poisoning. Unfortunately, they have run out of money for the burials and they need your help to get the last four sisters out of the freezer and into the ground. So, five of the remaining sisters are here to entertain you into donating; and entertain they most certainly will.
Nunsense is a fantastically funny show which gets the audience involved. You get a part in this crazy musical because the audience is cast as the fund raiser attendees. The nuns interact with the audience, speak directly to you and, yes, sometimes require a response. It sets the mood perfectly and creates a wonderfully immersive experience.
Photo: Jeff Bellante
This wonderful cast of Nunsense is comprised of five very talented ladies; excellent vocals, dancing and characterization abound. Sister Mary Regina, Mother Superior, is superbly played by Kate Chapman. She strikes just the right blend of ‘in charge’ and ‘one of the girls’, and her body language communicates volumes. Her extraordinarily brilliant scene at the close of Act I is hysterical; (I don’t want to give it away, just trust me and go see it!)
Sister Mary Hubert, Mistress of Novices, is portrayed by Tamara Anderson; while novice Sister Mary Leo is played by Krista Kurtzberg. Anderson’s wry and sarcastic humor is a nice foil to the other antics, and her powerhouse solo in “Holier Than Thou” is impressive. Kurtzberg is an adorable novice sister, and her charming dance sequences are lovely.
Sister Robert Anne is fabulously played by Alexa Jane Lowis. Her spot-on Brooklyn accent and tom-boyish mannerisms are a pure delight to watch. She makes every one of her scenes fun, and you just can’t wait to see what she’s going to do next.
Last, but certainly not least, is the magnificent portrayal of Sister Mary Amnesia by Caitlin Mesiano who, at times, completely steals the show. She’s hilarious, plain and simple. Her facial expressions are incomparable; her timing, excellent. Oh, and just wait for the number “So You Want to be a Nun”, her vocal talent will blow you away.
The set design by Michael Boyer is fun and perfect, but that’s all I’m going to say because more will ruin the joke. The band performed beautifully under the direction of Robert Felstein.
Nunsense is a terrific time with crazy antics, silly songs, hidden jokes and more references than you can count. Hold on to your habits and enjoy the ride!